After only a brief moment, Lin Xiao shifted his gaze away, his expression remaining as detached as ever.
Prince Wu, having witnessed it, again suspected he had been imagining things.
Lin Xiao turned back and gave Xia Yan a slight nod in response to her greeting of “Eleventh Elder Brother,” then told Noble Consort Yi and Princess Dengrong that he needed to go attend to the defensive arrangements, and went back out.
Qin Yao hadn’t dared raise her head from start to finish, for fear of revealing some sign that might be noticed by others.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the academy inside and out suddenly fell completely silent. Palace guards entered outside without a sound and took up their positions in order on both sides.
A moment later, the Emperor strode in with his hands clasped behind his back. Today he wore not his dragon robes but a plain black everyday garment, which made him look even taller and more imposing than the last time she had seen him at Yuquan Mountain. He walked with a swift, vigorous gait and quickly entered Weirui Hall.
Noble Consort Yi and Princess Dengrong hurried forward to welcome him. All the young women knelt in obeisance as well, and a rustling mass of people went down to their knees below.
The Emperor bade everyone rise, then clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the hall at a leisurely pace before slowly nodding. “Unchanged. Every single spot is exactly as it was back then. Honest, dedicated men like Mo Cheng are truly devoted.”
His spirits rose sharply. He stood and admired it for a moment, then turned and walked quickly back out of Weirui Hall, making his way along the school buildings on both sides to inspect the premises.
Noble Consort Yi hurried after him. Seeing that the Emperor’s expression was mild, she smiled. “Time passed so quickly just now. I still remember the days when I was also a student here at the academy, and the very first time I met Your Majesty was within the academy walls. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.”
The Emperor’s expression stiffened slightly. He nodded but did not take up the thread of conversation, only squinting up at the osmanthus trees filling the courtyard. Seeing that the branches were still entirely green with no flower buds in sight, he sighed: “I remember the first time I came here it was deep autumn, and the entire courtyard was filled with the fragrance of sweet osmanthus. That scent has never left me. It is a pity that it is not yet the season for blossoms.”
A shadow of gloom flickered across Noble Consort Yi’s eyes. She forced a smile. “In a few more days it will be Mid-Autumn Festival. The Grand Ming Palace has quite a number of sweet osmanthus trees as well. If Your Majesty wishes to admire the blossoms, perhaps we could hold a banquet in the palace when the time comes and enjoy it together with us all.”
The Emperor smiled, then seemed to think of something and turned to look behind him. “How is Kang Ping nowhere to be seen?”
Noble Consort Yi smiled. “Kang Ping was just presenting her greetings to Your Majesty a moment ago. Seeing that Your Majesty did not summon her to accompany the party, she did not presume, and remained in Weirui Hall awaiting your command.”
The Emperor laughed heartily. “This child — reading a few days of books has finally taught her some decorum. Normally I’m always complaining about Kang Ping’s chatter, yet go a single day without seeing her and I find myself missing her terribly. Have her summoned.”
Noble Consort Yi’s face broke into a genuinely pleased smile, and she quickly sent the palace servants behind her to find Kang Ping.
The Emperor and his party strolled through the various parts of the academy, and finally sat in to listen as the Madam of Duke Lu’s household delivered a lesson to the assembled young women. It was not until the noon meal hour that the imperial party departed and returned to the palace.
Qin Yao and the others had kept their hearts suspended all morning. Only now did they allow themselves to breathe a great sigh of relief; at the noon meal, each of them ate a full bowl more than usual before their strength gradually returned to them.
After the meal, Kang Ping, surrounded by Xia Yan and Chen Yuqi, walked out looking supremely pleased with herself. “My Father Emperor was in good spirits today and has already agreed to my request.”
Xia Yan’s expression remained neutral. Chen Yuqi, however, was suddenly startled. “Your Highness, do you truly intend to have that Feng Chuyue come to the academy to study?”
Kang Ping hated nothing more than having her decisions questioned, and immediately said with displeasure: “What of it? Is there any problem?”
Even with ten times the courage she had, Chen Yuqi would not dare defy Kang Ping’s words. She hastened to paste on a smile. “I think it’s perfectly fine. Miss Feng is vivacious and talkative — if she joins the academy it’s sure to be a lot of fun.”
Although Kang Ping was not accustomed to overthinking things, that didn’t mean she was entirely without perception. Knowing that Chen Yuqi loved to cause trouble behind people’s backs, she narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on her. “Miss Feng has taken well to my company, and anyone who dares make things difficult for her is making an enemy of this Princess. Once she comes to the academy, all of you are to treat her with complete courtesy and respect.”
Her voice was quite loud — clearly intended so that everyone present would take it to heart.
Liu Bingyu quietly stuck out her tongue and kept winking at Qin Yao and the others.
On the way back, Wang Yingning said with a puzzled air: “Princess Kang Ping may seem overbearing, but she’s actually very protective of those she’s fond of. If someone has taken her fancy, she’ll think of every means possible to shield them completely. I just don’t know who this Miss Feng she speaks of is, or how she managed to get on Princess Kang Ping’s good side — to actually have the Princess personally go before His Majesty to seek a place for her in the academy.”
Miss Feng? Qin Yao suddenly thought of someone, and a cold sweat immediately broke out on her forehead. Surely it couldn’t be Feng Chuyue?
“Still, I can’t help finding it strange,” Liu Bingyu added. “Princess Kang Ping may act fearless, but she actually understands her own limits well — otherwise she wouldn’t have been so beloved by the Emperor all these years. And there are so many people who try to curry favor with Princess Kang Ping on ordinary days, yet none of them seem to have ever gotten anywhere with her. So why has she suddenly become so warm toward this Miss Feng? Do you think there might be something on Miss Feng’s person that Princess Kang Ping wants?”
Qin Yao quietly knitted her brow. If this Miss Feng truly was Feng Chuyue, the Feng family was entirely without means or influence. What could there possibly be about them that would catch Princess Kang Ping’s eye and prompt her to go out of her way?
The group went together to Wang Yingning’s room and talked for a while. Mindful that there was still a music and arts lesson in the afternoon, they each returned to their own rooms for a midday rest.
That evening, Pei Min played a game of chess with Qin Yao in her room before returning to her own.
After washing and getting ready for bed, Qin Yao was just about to settle down for the night when Cai Ping let out a surprised low cry, followed by a muffled sound as though something had covered her mouth, leaving only soft, muted whimpers.
Alarm bells rang in Qin Yao’s heart. She leaped from the bed, threw her outer robe on hastily, and rushed to the couch — where she saw a figure leaning in through the window, using a hand to cover Cai Ping’s mouth and nose so she couldn’t cry out.
Seeing Qin Yao come over, the figure broke into a grin, his white teeth gleaming brilliantly in the moonlight. He lowered his voice: “Miss Qu.”
“Chang Rong?” Qin Yao was momentarily taken aback. “How did you come to be here?”
Chang Rong released his hand and chuckled. “The Young Lord is waiting for you outside.”
Qin Yao’s face flushed, and in an instant she understood. Yunyin Academy was guarded inside and out by Imperial Guards — if it weren’t with Lin Xiao’s directive, how could Chang Rong have simply waltzed in?
She stole a glance at Cai Ping, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I… I’ll come out right now.”
She turned and walked back to the dressing table, dressed herself properly, then loosely pinned up her loosely hanging hair before turning back to the window. She whispered to Cai Ping: “I’ll be back shortly.”
Seeing that she was about to climb out the window, Cai Ping hurried: “Young Lady, wait.”
She rushed to the chest in the room and brought out a lake-blue cape embroidered with jade hairpin blossoms. Draping it over Qin Yao’s shoulders she said: “Autumn has arrived; the nights are cold. Young Lady, dress warmly so as not to take a chill.”
Qin Yao nodded with a red face. Once outside the window, she let Chang Rong lead her forward.
They passed through the garden and arrived at an octagonal pavilion, where she could indeed see a figure standing inside.
Outside the pavilion stood quite a number of men with upright, powerful frames. In the dim light their faces were impossible to make out clearly. Seeing Qin Yao approach, they bowed their heads in unison toward the person in the pavilion, clasped their hands in a salute, and then withdrew without a sound.
As she walked, Qin Yao kept careful watch on the surroundings. Though she knew that Lin Xiao was thorough and capable, she still worried that someone might inadvertently stumble upon them.
By the time she reached the pavilion, Lin Xiao came forward to meet her. Seeing that Qin Yao wore no hair ornaments whatsoever, and that in her haste her raven-dark hair was somewhat loose, all piled to one side against her snow-white neck — making her look more languid and subtly lovely than usual, clearly just risen from bed — his heart quickened. He regarded her with a smile. “You had already settled in for the night?”
Qin Yao glanced up at Lin Xiao and saw that he was still wearing the same official garments from the daytime, with traces of fatigue in his expression. She knew he had likely been busy all day because of the Emperor’s departure from the palace, and so she nodded. “Yes, I had just settled down but hadn’t yet fallen asleep.”
Lin Xiao looked at Qin Yao and felt that her every movement was imbued with allure that invited the imagination to wander. A flush rose unavoidably to his face, and he said in a low voice: “I… there’s nothing in particular. I simply wanted to see you.”